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Content is anchored to trusted sources where available, but Compass has not yet been clinically reviewed. It provides general information rather than medical advice.

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Eating and nutrition

Enteral feeding

Giving food and fluid straight into the stomach or gut rather than by mouth.

What it means

Enteral just means by way of the gut, as opposed to into a vein. In practice it means a liquid feed given through a tube, either steadily by pump or in set amounts. A dietitian works out what and how much.

Why you might hear it

  • It is the phrase used in referrals and in funding paperwork.
  • It covers both nasogastric and gastrostomy routes.

People who may help

Where Compass goes into this

About this explanation

These are plain explanations of words you may come across, not advice about your own situation. Where a word matters to a decision, the question pages go into it properly, and your own team is the place to take it.